Abstract: Methods of identifying an adjuvant capable of activating dendritic cells including measuring expression level genes in skin of an animal prior to exposure to a test compound, wherein the genes are known to be upregulated or downregulated in the skin of the animal in response to topical application of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) to skin of said animal; exposing skin of an animal of the same species to the test compound; measuring expression level of the genes in the skin of the animal after exposure to the test compound; and comparing expression level of the genes measured before and after exposure to the test compound, wherein an increase or decrease in expression level of the genes following exposure to the test compound indicates that the test compound is capable of activating dendritic cells. Also included are compositions that induce dendritic cell migration and modulate expression level of genes in skin cells.

Abstract: Methods of identifying tumor-specific mutations that can serve as B cell epitopes for the induction of autologous tumor-specific antibodies are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include: identifying a tumor-specific mutation in an expressed gene of a subject having cancer; determining that the mutation is in a region of an open reading frame predicted to encode an extracellular domain of a membrane protein; and identifying a corresponding mutant polypeptide encoded by the expressed gene comprising the tumor-specific mutation. Some embodiments relate to a method of inducing a tumor specific immune response in a subject including administering one or more polypeptides identified according to the methods disclosed herein to a subject. Other embodiments relate to pharmaceutical compositions including mutant polypeptide(s).

Abstract: Methods of identifying an adjuvant capable of activating dendritic cells including measuring expression level genes in skin of an animal prior to exposure to a test compound, wherein the genes are known to be upregulated or downregulated in the skin of the animal in response to topical application of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) to skin of said animal; exposing skin of an animal of the same species to the test compound; measuring expression level of the genes in the skin of the animal after exposure to the test compound; and comparing expression level of the genes measured before and after exposure to the test compound, wherein an increase or decrease in expression level of the genes following exposure to the test compound indicates that the test compound is capable of activating dendritic cells. Also included are compositions that induce dendritic cell migration and modulate expression level of genes in skin cells.